The Real Reason for the Season

Please bear with me as I share once more about the events surrounding my brother's passing; it seems to be helpful in the grieving process.  Doug's funeral was held in the church in which we all were raised.  Even though none of us now lives in that community, and the new pastor did not know us, he was gracious enough to minister to our family and conduct the service.  

Doug loved and enjoyed the Christmas season probably more than anyone else in our family, so we were all in agreement that we wanted Christmas carols for the funeral; the only dilemma was deciding which ones to use.  We have vivid memories of Doug breaking out in various Christmas carols, but "Hark, the Herald Angels Sing" seemed to be his favorite. We sang this song corporately to begin the service.  "O Come, O Come, Emmanuel" was also selected because that was the song Ashlea was singing to him at the time of his passing.  And finally, mom requested "Silent Night" be sung to close the service, because it is her favorite.  Ashlea and our niece Angie sang these two songs as duets. . .beautifully done, I might add. :)

Pastor Nielsen's message began with a take-off on the familiar cliche "Jesus is the reason for the season."  He challenged us, though, to take that thought further to the realization that the real reason for the Christmas season is death.  Because of Adam and Eve's sin (Genesis 3), they were subject to physical and spiritual death.  All of mankind since then likewise has been born spiritually dead, separated from God's holiness, and destined for God's judgment and eternal death in hell.  But because of God's great love, even before time began, the Holy Trinity ordained the plan of redemption, the saving of souls from eternal punishment.  The redemption plan required that Jesus humble himself and take on the the form of man, being born as the Babe in the manger that first Christmas. The redemption plan also required that sinless Jesus lay down his life on the cross as the only acceptable sacrifice to cover the sins of man.  And in rising from the dead on the third day, Jesus overcame the power of death and promises that same victory to those who trust in him as Lord and Savior.  As many have said before, Christmas is really about Jesus' ultimate death on the cross to save us from eternal spiritual death.  Doxology! 


"I tell you this, brothers:  flesh and blood cannot inherit the kingdom of God, nor does the perishable inherit the imperishable.  Behold!  I tell you a mystery.  We shall not all sleep, but we shall all be changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye, at the last trumpet.  For the trumpet will sound, and the dead will be raised imperishable, and we shall be changed.  For this perishable  body must put on the imperishable, and this mortal body must put on immortality. When the perishable puts on the imperishable, and the mortal puts on immortality, then shall come to pass the saying that is written:  'Death is swallowed up in victory.' 'O death, where is your victory?  O death, where is your sting?'  The sting of death is sin, and the power of sin is the law.  But thanks be to God, who gives us the victory through our Lord Jesus Christ."  I Corinthians 15:50 - 57